72 



Mycologia 



stalk, remain closely applied to one another and definitely termi- 

 nate the growth of the fruiting body. Those at the sides of the 

 synnemata usually occur singly. The spores are ab jointed suc- 

 cessively from the tips of the sporophores and become incor- 

 porated in a mucus like substance that is secreted copiously 

 during the process of spore formation, Plate 4, Fig. 1, in such 

 a way that globular spore masses are produced. The largest of 

 these which are formed at the tips of the synnemata where the 

 sporophores are grouped together are easily observed with the 

 naked eye, and appear at first like the deliquescent, translucent 

 sporangia of certain mucors. Later they become brown or almost 

 black. 



In addition to the spores, which are thin-walled and evidently 

 formed for the purpose of infecting other insect hosts when 

 favorable conditions obtain, a second type of reproductive body 

 is produced, the object of which is apparently to tide the fungus 

 over unfavorable conditions. These bodies, the sclerotia, are 

 formed at the tips of certain branches of the synnemata in the 

 manner illustrated on Plate 4, Fig. 3. The method by which they 

 are produced has not been studied in detail, but such observa- 

 tions as have been made indicate that certain of the distal hyphae 

 of the synnemata become twisted, knotted and intertwined about 

 each other in such a way that spherical masses are produced, 

 which after further development assume the appearance of 

 typical sclerotia. These bodies usually appear after spore forma- 

 tion has reached its maximum, or even ceased, and in many in- 

 stances entire synnemata become involved in their formation so 

 that old tube cultures often contain only the sclerotia, which 

 are formed in large numbers and easily become detached from 

 one another and roll about the tube. At maturity they are 

 brownish in color and roughly spherical, Plate 4, Fig. 6. When 

 crushed, the elements of which they are composed separate from 

 one another readily, and it will be observed that they are very 

 thick-walled, Plate 4, Fig. 7, 9, and irregular in outline. When 

 placed in sterile water, germination may take place at once, 

 although it is obvious that because of their thick walls they are 

 primarily intended to function as resting spores. In germinating, 



